I recently played, and got addicted to, Cave's latest shump, Akai Katana.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or4XBHxA2OE&feature=player_embedded
It's a blast, though the characters are ridiculous. Cave tried to get all dark and edgy but the characters are really laughable so it doesn't work, but this game turned out to be fantastic. But yeah, the "couple" holding hands dramatically in every piece of artwork and title screen? That's Kikyou...and his
sister Botan. And the other pair of ridiculous characters, in the first plane. The pilot is a female, cross dressed. Because that's what people do when their atoning for killing their friend. They cross dress.
Also, I've been playing this some more. I love that you can have the old Galaga sprites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K47tcyrW2Q
Posts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHiuBxf6tG4
It is insanely fun.
I can't defend Sine Mora anymore. So much dumb bullshit in that game. The game is fun to try and "beat" but everything falls apart beyond the chilling story mode. Playing for score is simply not feasable.
There's some other ones without webpages, though, so here's a gameplay video then a direct download.
I do like to play 1942 though.
I also like Beat Hazard, does that count?
Holy fuck, Torus Trooper, Fraxy, and Warning Forever. I had forgotten about those games and how much I loved them. Actually, I liked all the games made by the Torus Trooper guy but some of em are reaaaaaally weird and didn't hold my attention for as long.
edit: oh, and I really like Genetos too because you start off playing like an old-school shump and then as you go through the game it evolves through the various generations of shumps. Pretty cool stuff, really.
Touhou got me into the "modern" crop of shumps and improved my skill tenfold (by being my first title in the genre that draws you a hitbox). I love me some Touhou.
Are you the best at making little girls move?
Unfortunately, the children of Deathsmiles have about three times the character of the abominations in Akai Katana.
PSN/Steam/NNID: SyphonBlue | BNet: SyphonBlue#1126
TOO LATE
BULLET AUDYSSEY FUCK YEAH
2D Shoot Em Up with flying ships or magical characters with lots of bullets and strong focus on scoring. They thrive on PC and XBLA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egw-k_orQlE
It is cheap and lots of fun.
also, don't say shmup
dammmittttt
http://www.kongregate.com/games/polymerrabbit/frantic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45W_Eq9iomM